1987 Edition

Boundary disputes

none; maritime dispute with Indonesia; territorial claim in Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Territory)

none; Diego Garcia claimed by Mauritius

none; maritime dispute with Venezuela; territorial dispute with Nicaragua over San Andres and Providencia Archipelago

none; maritime dispute with Australia; East Timor question with Portugal

none; occupies

Climate

generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north

tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

tropical; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds

tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

tropical, but moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April

Coastline

25,760 km

about 120 km

about 54 km

3,208 km total (1,448 km Pacific Ocean; 1,760 Caribbean Sea)

54,716 km

201 km

2,88] km

Comparative area

almost as large as conterminous US

less than one-half the size of Washington, D.C.

about the size of Washington, D. C. Coastline; 80 km

slightly smaller than Washington, D.C.

about the size of New Mexico and Texas combined

about the size of Alaska and California combined

about the size of Rhode Island

about four-fifths the size of Alaska

Contiguous zone

12 nm

12 nm

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation

200 meters or to depth of exploitation

200 meters or to depth of exploitation

200 meters or to depth of exploitation

to depth of exploitation

200 meters or to depth of exploitation

200 meters or to depth of exploitation

Environment

subject to severe droughts and floods; cyclones along coast; limited freshwater availability; irrigated soil degradation; regular, tropical, invigorating, sea breeze known as the doctor occurs along west coast in summer; desertification

consists of 2,300 islands

subject to hurricanes and tropical storms

almost completely surrounded by a reef

highlands subject to voleanic eruptions; deforestation

more than 13,500 islands; occasional floods; deforestation

periodic devastating cyclones

Exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

200 nm

200 nm

200 nm

Extended economic zone

200 nm

200 nm

200 nm

Land boundaries

6,342 km total

2,736 km total

2,044 km total

Land use

6% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 58% meadows and pastures; 14% forest and woodland; 22% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other

20% arable land; 7% permanent crops; 838% meadows and pastures; 7% forest and woodland; 33% other

0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other

4% arable land; 2% permanent crops; 29% meadows and pastures; 49% forest and woodland; 16% other; includes NEGL% irrigated

8% arable land; 3% permanent crops; 7% meadows and pastures; 67% forest and woodland; 15% other; includes 3% irrigated

20% arable land; 2% permanent crops; 4% meadows and pastures; 35% forest and woodland; 39% other; includes 2% irrigated

Maritime claims

(measured from claimed archipelagic baselines)

Mutsamud

Nzwani Fomboni Domoni Mwali -.- °

Special notes

world’s smallest continent but sixth largest country

Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

located along maior sea lanes of Indian Ocean

only South American country with coastlines on both Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

straddles Equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean

none

Terrain

mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

flat and low (up to 4 meters in elevation)

coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

mixture of flat coastal lowlands, plains in east, central highlands, some high mountains

mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains

mostly rngged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast

Territorial sea

3 nm

8 nm

8 nm

3 nm

12 nm

12 nm

12 nm

12 nm

Total area

7,686,850 km?; land area: 7,617,930 km?

80 km?; land area: 80 km?

150 km?; land area: 150 km?

130 km?; land area: 130 km?

1,138,910 km: land area: 1,038,700 km?

1,904,570 km?; land area: 1,811,570 km?

2,510 km?; land area: 2,500 km?

1,221,040 km; land area: 1,221,040 km?

Ethnic divisions

civilian inhabitants, known as the Ilois, evacuated to Mauritius _ before construction of UK and US defense facilities

over 90% black, remainder of white and Asian origin

61% Chinese, 25% Malay, 11% European, 3% other; no indigenous population

58% mestizo, 20% white, 14% mulatto, 4% black, 3% mixed blackIndian, 1% Indian

majority of Malay stock comprising 45.0% Javanese, 14.0% Sundanese, 7.5% Madurese, 7.5% coastal Malays, 26.0% other

most of the population is of thoroughly intermixed ancestry of French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, and Indian origin

Ethnie divisions

96% Caucasian, 4% Asian, Aboriginal, and other

Infant mortality rate

10/1,000 (1983) Life expectancy; men 72.1, women 78.7 (1983)

56/1,000 (1985); Indians about 233/1,000

95/1,000 (1983)

Labor force

7.6 million (November 1986); 26.9 manufacturing and industry; 22.4 public and community services; 20.0 wholesale and retail trade; 18.1 finance and services; 6.0% agriculture; 8.2% unemployment (January 1987)

all workers are employees of the Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas Island, Ltd.

11 million (1986); 53% services, 26% agriculture, 21% industry (1981); 14% official unemployment (1985)

67 million (1985 est.); 55% agriculture, 10% manufacturing, 4% construction, 3% transport and communications

Language

English, native languages

English (official)

English

Spanish

Indonesian (modified form of Malay; official); English and Dutch leading foreign languages; local dialects, the most widely spoken of which is Javanese

Life expectancy

65 (1985); Indians about

54

Literacy

98.5%

98.3%

87.8% (1985 est.); Indians about 40%

62%

Nationality

noun—Australian(s); adjective—Australian

noun—Virgin Islander(s); adjective—Virgin Islander

noun—Christmas Islander(s), adjective—Christmas Island

noun—Colombian(s); adjective—Colombian

noun—Indonesian(s); adjective—Indonesian

noun—Reunionese (sing. and pl.); adjective—Reunionese

Organized labor

62% of total employees (1986)

900,000 members (1986), about 8 percent of labor force

3 million members (claimed); about 5% of labor force

Population

16,072,986 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 1.21%

no permanent civilian population; formerly about 3,000 islanders

12,374 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 2.12%

2,243 (July 1987), average annual growth rate -0.76%

30,660,504 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 2.07%

180,425,534; average annual growth rate 2.05%

549,697 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 1.84%

Religion

26.1% Anglican, 26.0% Roman Catholic, 24.3% other Christian

majority Methodist; others include Anglican, Church of God, SeventhDay Adventist, Baptist, and Roman Catholic

95% Roman Catholic

88% Muslim, 6% Protestant, 3% Roman Catholic, 2% Hindu, 1% other

Work force

4,911 (1980)

Administrative divisions

6 states and 2 territories

9 electoral districts

23 departments, 4 intendancies, 5 commissariats, Bogota Special District

28 first-level administrative subdivisions or provinces, which are further subdivided into 282 second-level areas

Branches

bicameral legislature (Federal Parliament—Senate and House of Representatives); Prime Minister and Cabinet responsible to House; independent judiciary

Executive Council (cabinet) consists of the Governor as chairman, four ministers of the legislature, and an ex officio member who is the attorney general; Legislative Council consists of the Speaker (elected from outside the Council), nine elected members, and an ex officio member who is the attorney general

Advisory Council advises appointed administrator

President, bicameral legislature (Congress—Senate, House of Representatives), judiciary

executive headed by President who is chief of state and head of Cabinet; Cabinet selected by President; unicameral legislature (DPR or House of Representatives) of 460 members (96 appointed, 364 elected); second body (MPR or People’s Consultative Assembly) of 920 members includes the legislature and 460 other members (chosen by several processes, but not directly elected); MPR elects President and Vice President and theoretically determines national policy; judicial, Supreme Court is highest court

Capital

none

Bogota

Communists

4,000 members (est.)

probably none

none

18,000 members est., including Communist Party Youth Organization (JUCO)

Communist Party (PKI) was officially banned in March 1966; current strength about 1,000-3,000, with less than 10% engaged in organized activity; preOctober 1965 hardcore membership about 1.5 million

Dependent areas

Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island

Elections

held at three-year intervals or sooner if Parliament is dissolved by Prime Minister; last election 1 December 1984 Political parties and leaders: government—Australian Labor Party (Robert Hawke); opposition—Liberal Party (John Howard), National Party (lan Sinclair), Australian Democratic Party (Janine Haines), Nuclear Disarmament Party (Michael Denborough)

at least once every five years; last general election held 30 September Political parties and leaders: United Party (UP), Conrad Maduro; Virgin Islands Party (VIP), H. Lavitty Stoutt; Independent, C. B. Romney

every fourth year; presidential election held May 1986; congressional election held March 1986; municipal and departmental elections every two years, next elections scheduled 1988 Political parties and leaders: Liberal Party—Virgilio Barco Vargas, Alfonso Lopez Michelsen; New Liberal faction is headed by Luis Carlos Galan; Conservative Party—Alvaro Gomez Hurtado, Misael Pastrana Borrero; Belisario Betancur leads a small faction; Communist Party (PCC), Gilberto Vieira White; Communist Party /Marxist-Leninist (PCC/ML), Maaist orientation; Patriotic Union, (UP), political movement formed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and PCC, Braulio Herrera (Jaime Pardo Leal was 1986 presidential candidate)

Government leader

T. F. PATERSON, Administrator

Virgilio BARCO Vargas, President (since August 1986); term ends 1990

Gen. (Ret.) SOEHARTO, President (since March 1968)

Government leaders

Sir Ninian STEPHEN, Governor General (since July 1982); Robert HAWKE, Prime Minister (since March 1983)

W. Marsden, Commissioner (since 1986; resident in UK); T. C. Stitt, Administrator (since 1986)

Mark HERDMAN, Governor and Chairman of the Executive Council (since 1986); H. Lavitty STOUTT, Chief Minister (since 1986)

Legal system

based on English common law; constitution adopted 1900; High Court has jurisdiction over cases involving interpretation of the constitution; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

English law; justice is administered by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and Courts of Summary Jurisdiction and Magistrates; there is a resident puisne judge on the islands; new constitution in 1977

Australian territory since 10 October 1958; administrator appointed by Governor General of Australia; Supreme Court; legislative, judicial, and administrative system regulated by the Christmas Island Act of 1958

based on Spanish law; religious courts regulate marriage and divorce; constitution decreed in 1886, with amendments codified in 1946 and 1968; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures code; constitution of 1945 is legal basis of government; has not accepted compulsory IC] jurisdiction

Member of

ADB, AIOEC, ANZUS, CIPEC (associate), Colombo Plan, Commonwealth, DAC, ELDO, ESCAP, FAO, GATT, 1AEFA, IATP, IBA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, 1CO, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, International Lead and Zinc Study Group, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, 1OOC, IPU, IRC, 1SO, ITC, ITU, 1WC—International Whaling Commission, |WC—International Wheat Council, OECD, SPF, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WSG

Commonwealth

Contadora Group, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, 1CO, IDA, 1DB—Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, IHO, 1LO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IRC, 1SO, ITU, LAIA and Andean SubRegional Group, NAM, OAS, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPEB, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WSG, WTO

ADB, ANRPC, ASEAN, Association of Tin Producing Countries, CIPEC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, GATT, IAEA, IBA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IDB—Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, [IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ISO, 1TC, 1TU, NAM, OIC, OPEC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

National holiday

Australia Day, 26 January

Territory Day, 1 July

Independence Day, 20 July

Independence Day, 17 August

Official name

Commonwealth of Australia

British Indian Ocean Territory British Indian Ocean Territory (continued)

British Virgin Islands

Territory of Christmas Island

Republic of Colombia

Republic of Indonesia

Other political or pressure groups

Australian Democratic Labor Party (antiCommunist Labor Party splinter group); Peace and Nuclear Disarmament Action (Nuclear Disarmament Party splinter group)

Communist Party (PCC), Gilberto Vieira White; PCC/ML, Chinese Line Communist Party; Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia’s Patriotic Union Party (FARCUP)

Suffrage

universal and compulsory over age 18

universal adult over 18

age 18 and over

universal over age 18 and married persons regardless of age Political parties and leaders: Golkar (quasi-official party based on functional groups), Lt. Gen. Sudharmono; Indonesia Democracy Party (federation of former Nationalist and Christian Parties), Soeryad (chairman) and Nicholas Daryanto (secretary general); United Development Party (federation of former {Islamic parties), John Naro

Type

federal parliamentary state recognizing Elizabeth II as sovereign or head of state Capital; Canberra

colony administered by United Kingdom

British dependent territory Capital; Road Town

Australian territory Capita}: The Settlement

republic; executive branch dominates government structure

republic Capital; Jakarta

Voting strength

(1984 parliamentary election) House of Representatives—Labor Party 82 seats, Liberal-National coalition 66 seats; Senate—Labor Party 34 seats, Liberal-National coalition 33 seats, Australian Democratic Party 7 seats, independents 2 seats

1986 elections—UP 2 seats; VIP 5 seats; Independents 2 seats

(1986 presidentia! election) Virgilio Barco Vargas 59%, Alvaro Gomez Hurtado 36%, Jaime Pardo Leal 4%, others 1%

(1982 election) Golkar 64.1%, Unity Development 28%, Indonesia Democracy 7.9%

Agriculture

large areas devoted to grazing; 60% of area used for crops is planted in wheat; major products—wool, lamb, beef, wheat, fruits, sugarcane; selfsufficient in food

limited—livestock (including poultry), fish, fruit, and vegetables

main crops—coffee, rice, corn, sugarcane, plantains, bananas, cotton, tobacco; an illegal producer of coca and cannabis for the international drug trade

subsistence food production, and smallholder and plantation production for export; rice, cassava, peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, copra, other tropical products; an illegal producer of cannabis for the international drug trade

Budget

(FY86-87 proj.) expenditures, $49.3 billion; revenues, $47.0 billion; deficit, $2.3 billion

revenues, $19.79 million; expenditures, $19.0 million (1984 est.)

revenues, $5.1 billion; expenditures, $5.6 billion (1987 est.)

receipts, $10.5 billion; expenditures, $13.9 billion (1987/88)

Crude steel

498,600 metric tons produced (1984), 18 kg per capita

Electric power

34,616,000 kW capacity; 125,000 million kWh produced, 7,810 kWh per capita (1986)

provided by US military

7,500 kW capacity; 33 million kWh produced, 2,750 kWh per capita (1986)

11,000 kW capacity; 38 million kWh produced, 12,670 kWh per capita (1986)

8,488,000 kW capacity; 29,580 million kWh produced, 990 kWh per capita (1986)

10,800,000 kW capacity; 30,000 million kWh produced, 170 kWh per capita (1986)

Exports

$22.9 billion (f.0.b., 1985); principal products—wheat, barley, beef, lamb, dairy products, wool, coal, iron ore

$2.0 million (1981); fresh fish, gravel, sand, fruits, and vegetables

about 1.2 million metric tons of phosphate exported to Australia, New Zealand, and some Asian nations

$3.6 billion (f.0.b., 1985); coffee, coal, fuel oil, cotton, tobacco, sugar, textiles, cattle and hides, bananas, fresh cut flowers

$18.6 billion (1986); petroleum and liquefied natural gas, timber, rubber, coffee, tin, animal and vegetable oils, tea, copper

Fiscal year

1 July-80 June

1 April-31 March

] July-80 June

calendar year

1 April-31 March

Fishing

293 metric tons fish, 25 metric tons crustaceans (1975)

catch 75,351 metric tons (1984)

catch 2.2 million metric tons; shrimp exports $194 million, imports $4 million (1984)

GDP

$153.0 billion (1985), $9,760 per capita; 60% private consumption, 22% investment, 17.1% government expenditure; 1.25% average annual real growth rate (1986); inflation rate 8.9% (October 1986)

$77.1 million (1983)

GNP

$31 billion; $1,129 per capita (1986 est.); 73% private consumption, 19% gross investment, 11% public consumption (1984); growth rate 5% (1986); 21.0% inflation rate (1986)

$85 billion (1986 est.), about $510 per capita; real average annual growth, 8.6% (1981-85); real annual growth rate 0.0% (1986 est.)

Imports

$26.0 billion (c.i-f., 1985) principal products—manufactured raw materials, capital equipment, consumer goods

$49.8 million (1981); building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery

$4.1 billion (c.i.f., 1985); transportation equipment, machinery, industrial metals and raw materials, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, fuels, fertilizers, paper and paper products, foodstuffs, beverages

$10.3 billion (c.i.f., 1985); wheat flour, wheat grains, and other cereals and cereal products, textiles, chemical products, iron and steel products, machinery, transport equipment

Major industries

mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals Crude steel]: 6.6 million metric tons produced, 420 kg per capita (1985)

tourism (over 45%), construction, rum, concrete block

phosphate extraction (near depletion)

textiles, food processing, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, metal products, cement; mining— gold, coal, emeraJds, iron, nickel, silver, salt

petroleum, textiles, mining, cement, chemical fertilizer production, timber

Major trade partners

(1983-84) exports— 26% Japan, 11% US, 6% New Zealand, 4% North Korea, 4% Singapore, 3% USSR; imports—22% US, 22% Japan, 7% UK, 6% FRG, 4% New Zealand Aid; donor—ODA and OOF economic aid commitments (1970-84), $7 billion

mostly with neighboring US Virgin Islands

Australia, New Zealand

exports—40% US, 14% FRG, 4% UK, 4% Netherlands, 4% Japan, 3% Italy; imports—33% US, 11% Japan, 8% Venezuela, 7% FRG, 4% France, 3% Canada, 3% UK, 3% Spain, 3% Brazil, 3% Italy (1985)

(1984) exports— 47% Japan, 21% US, 9% Singapore; imports—23% Japan, 18% US, 12% Singapore, 11% Saudi Arabia, 4% FRG

Monetary conversion rate

1.55 Australian dollars=US$1 (14 January 1987)

official currency is the US dollar

1.55 Australian dollars=US$1 (November 1986)

212.56 pesos=US$1 (November 1986)

1,648 rupiahs=US$1 (November 1986)

National resources

phosphates

Natural resources

bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, oil

petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds Colombia (continued)

oil, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper

Airfields

1,014 total, 973 usable; 228 with permanent-surface runways, 2 with runways over 3,659 m; 20 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 486 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

1 total, 1 usable with permanent-surface runways over 3,659 m on Diego Garcia

3 total; 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways

1 usable with permanent-surface runway ],220-2,4389

636 total, 620 usable; 65 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 10 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 96 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

436 total, 414 usable; 100 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m, 12 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 66 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Civil air

106 major transport aircraft

about 150 major transport aircraft

Highways

837,872 km total; 243,750 km paved, 228,396 km gravel, crushed stone, or stabilized soil surface, 365,726 km unimproved earth

short stretch of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia

106 km motorable roads (1983)

75,450 km total; 9,350 km paved, 66,100 km earth and gravel surfaces

119,500 km total

Inland waterways

8,368 km; mainly by small, shallow-draft craft

none

none

14,300 km, navigable by river boats

21,579 km; Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura 820 km, Kalimantan portion of Borneo 10,460 km, Celebes 241 km, and Irian Jaya 4,587 km

Pipelines

crude oil, 2,475 km; refined products, 500 km; natural gas, 5,600 km

crude oil, 3,585 km; refined products, 1,350 km; natural gas, 830 km; natural gas liquids, 125 km

crude oil, 2,450 km; refined products, 456 km; natural gas, 450 km

Ports

12 major, numerous minor Civil air; around 150 major transport aircraft

1 major (Diego Garcia)

1 major (Road Town)

Flying Fish Cove

6 major (Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, San Andrés, Santa Marta, Tumaco)

15 ocean ports

Railroads

40,661 km total (1985); 7,970 km 1.600-meter gauge, 16,201 km 1.435meter standard gauge, 16,307 km 1.067meter gauge; 183 km dual gauge; 1,130 km electrified; government owned (except for a few hundred kilometers of privately owned track)

none

none

none

3,568 km, all 0.914-meter gauge, single track

6,964 km total; 6,389 km 1.067meter gauge, 497 km 0.750-meter gauge, 78 km 0.600-meter gauge; 211 km double track; 101 km electrified; government owned

Telecommunications

very good international and domestic service; 8.7 million telephones (55 per 100 popl.); 258 AM, 67 FM, 134 TV stations; 3 international earth satellite stations; submarine cables to New Zealand and Papua New Guinea; domestic satellite service

minimal telecommunications facilities; US Navy operates 1 AM, 1 FM, and 1 TV stations

3,000 telephones— worldwide external telephone service and cable communication links; 1 AM and | TV stations

4,000 radio receivers (1982)

nationwide radiorelay system; 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite station with 2 antennas and 1] domestic satellite stations; 1.89 million telephones (6.5 per 100 popl.); 404 AM, 85 TV stations

interisland microwave system and HF police net; domestic service fair, international service good; radiobroadcast coverage good; 741,330 (est.) telephones (0.4 per 100 popl.); 618 AM, 38 FM, 9 TV stations; 210 TV relays; ] international satellite ground station (1 Indian Ocean antenna and 1 Pacific Ocean antenna), and a domestic satellite communications system

Branches

Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force

Army (Ejercito Nacional), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Colombia), Navy (Armada Nacional)

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police

Military budget

for fiscal year ending 30 June 1986, $4.6 billion; about 9.9% of total central government budget

for fiscal year ending 1987, $340.3 million; 7% of the central government budget

Military manpower

males 15-49, 4,317,000; 3,792,000 fit for military service; 137,000 reach military age (17) annually

males 15-49, 8,049,000; 5,483,000 fit for military service; 364,000 reach military age (18) annually

males 15-49, 45,740,000; 26,518,000 fit for military service; 2,706,000 reach military age (18) annually